The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Chapter 2

At the parking lot, Laurent sat behind the wheel, eyes closed as he massaged his temples, trying to ease the tension and frustration brewing inside him. Serena, with her smug smile, and his father, so easily swayed by her charm—it was enough to drive him mad. The bitter laugh that escaped his lips was a testament to how close he was to snapping.

He couldn't believe Serena had gone this far. And even worse, he couldn't believe his own father had allowed himself to be manipulated by her. The whole situation was like a sick joke. But two could play at this game.

"If you want to play dirty, Serena, then let's play dirty," he muttered under his breath, a smirk creeping onto his face as he pulled out his phone.

He dialed Alen, who answered almost immediately, his voice dry with exasperation. "You should've let me finish before you stormed out. Guess you're pretty surprised now, huh?" Alen's tone was biting, clearly referencing Serena taking the project.

"Did you manage to change your father's mind?"

Laurent scoffed, the anger still bubbling just beneath the surface. "That girl's got her claws deep in his mind already. He's completely under her spell."

"Well, that sounds like a no," Alen sighed. "So, what's the plan now? You know you're not just going to let this go."

A low, menacing chuckle slipped from Laurent's mouth, sending a clear message to Alen. Laurent had something up his sleeve, and it wasn't going to be clean.

"Alen, get in touch with your scriptwriter friend—the best one. I want to make a little change to the script."

"Oh no," Alen muttered, realizing where this was going. He knew Laurent well enough to know that whatever changes he had in mind, they were meant to sabotage Serena in some way. Laurent wasn't the type to let a slight go unpunished.

"And," Laurent continued, "call the CEO of the Jinx energy drink. Tell him I'll be at his company by 7. We need to have a little chat."

Alen groaned inwardly and slightly slapped his forehead. He had hoped he could finally rest after the whole mess, but of course, Laurent wasn't finished. This guy was relentless. If Alen wanted any hope of getting a break, he'd have to help Laurent get his revenge quickly.

"Fine," Alen said, defeated. "But I swear, Laurent, this better be the last thing today. I need to sleep."

Laurent laughed again, but this time, it was cold and calculating. "Don't worry, Alen. After this, you'll have plenty of time to rest. Vale, though? Not so much."

As the call ended, Laurent tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and leaned back, the smirk still playing on his lips. He could feel the thrill of the upcoming move running through him. If Serena thought she had won, she was about to learn a hard lesson.

THREE DAYS LATER

Serena sat in her car, peacefully sipping her iced matcha as she gazed out the window, watching the world go by. People were busy with their own lives, living in their small bubbles. For a brief moment, she wondered what her life would be like if she weren't in the spotlight. What if she lived like a regular person, without fame or the pressures of the industry? But she quickly shook the thought away. That was a fantasy long out of reach. The spotlight was hers—fame and her undeniable talent were what set her apart.

BUZZ BUZZ ~

Her phone buzzed incessantly. She glanced at the screen, seeing her manager, Iso, calling. She answered, already curious about what was so urgent.

"Yes?" she asked casually.

"Where are you?" Iso's voice came through, sounding somewhat hurried.